Mason Diaz will have two opportunities to pick up his second career Carteret County Speedway victory in Sunday night’s Solid Rock Carriers Labor Day Classic when he competes in both the Limited Late Model and Legends feature races.
The 18-year-old from Manassas, Virginia, who has one career start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, picked up a win at Carteret County Speedway on July 7th in a Legends feature race. This weekend, he hopes to pick up wins number two and three.
“The win that came back in July helps me with some confidence, but now I’ll have to learn how to get around in the Late Model,” Diaz said. “I should be fine to learn how to get around. Doing double duty will be hard. Last time I did it was running a Super Late Model and Late Model Stock [at Hickory Motor Speedway]. That was truly a lot on me and my team.”
While the transition from the Legend Car to the Late Model may be difficult, Diaz will be in cars prepared by some of the best in the region. His Late Model is prepared by Mike Darne Racing while his Legend Car is prepared by Dillon Spain Motorsports – two teams that have numerous wins and championships to their credit at Southern National Motorsports Park.
“This weekend will be two separate teams with Mike Darne Racing and Dillon Spain Motorsports,” Diaz commented. “It will be difficult to change my lines and driving styles since the cars are so different. I think I’ll get the hang of it.”
He will be coming to Carteret County Speedway with a new car with expectations of a strong finish and hopes of visiting victory lane and adding his name to the list of Late Model winners on the front stretch wall.
“My goal in the Late Model race is to finish in the top-five,” Diaz explained. “We have a new car and are still trying to figure it out, but Mike Darne Racing will give me a hot rod. I want to be up front and racing with everyone. To win this race would mean a lot. It will be the highest purse win I have ever won which would be cool, and to win first time in this car at this track will be great as well.”
Last year, Diaz won the track championship at Southern National Motorsports Park in a Late Model and also picked up a win at Caraway Speedway. He entered this season hoping to pick up more wins and started out the year with a win at New Smyrna Speedway in a straight-rail Pro Late Model back in February. However, he has not won in a Late Model since then.
“We haven’t won in the Late Model all year,” Diaz elaborated. “We have won in the Pro this year and have had some great finishes. The Late Model, this year we just haven’t raced it a lot. I can’t wait to get back into victory lane since I know we are able to do it. It will mean that everything has to go our way. Hopefully, it will, and we can get back to collecting checkers like last year.”
Sunday night’s Limited Late Model feature will pay $8,000 to the winner while the Riverside Dodge Legends feature will pay $2,500-to-win. Practice for the Solid Rock Carriers Labor Day Classic will begin at 3pm on Sunday, September 2nd. Qualifying will commence at 5pm and the green flag will wave at 7:30pm.
